1953 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1953, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth rates and death rates, excluding migration—was notably high, averaging around 1.8% per year. This period marked the early stages of the global population boom, driven by declining mortality rates due to improvements in medicine, sanitation, and food supply, while birth rates remained high, especially in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Africa and parts of South Asia experienced the highest RNIs, often exceeding 2.5%, as both regions had high fertility rates and rapidly falling death rates. In contrast, Europe’s RNI was much lower, generally below 1%, due to already low birth rates and slower declines in mortality. North America’s RNI was moderate, reflecting the post-war baby boom but tempered by earlier declines in mortality. Countries like India, Nigeria, and Indonesia saw RNIs above 2%, while nations such as France, the United Kingdom, and Japan had much lower rates, sometimes under 0.5%. This divergence set the stage for rapid population growth in developing regions and slower growth or early demographic transition in more developed countries.

Data from US Census International Database